Rangers are getting ready to send Leon King out on loan in January amid a lack of opportunities at Ibrox.
According to the Daily Record, the 19-year-old centre-back is set to move out on a temporary deal despite being highly rated because Philippe Clement “can’t guarantee” regular first team action.
It means that Rangers are now looking for “suitable options” for the centre-back ahead of the January window with several players currently in front of Leon King in the pecking order.
It comes with Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun consolidating the two centre-back berths, with John Souttar, Ben Davies and even Dujon Sterling ahead of the teenager in the Belgian manager’s thinking.
Leon King set for January Rangers exit?
A January loan move appears to make the most sense for Leon King with the Academy defender yet to make an appearance this season.
That’s despite the centre-back being heavily involved in the Ibrox club’s Champions League campaign last season, Giovanni van Bronckhorst relying on the player amid a long-term injury crisis.
Having attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United only one year ago, at least according to Fabrizio Romano, Leon King finds himself in something of a Rangers limbo.
The defender looked set to be part of Michael Beale’s plans for the Rangers squad this season but an injury – which turned out better than first feared – forced the club to move for cover in the shape of Leon Balogun.
Since then, the defender has been unable to break back into the team and now he looks so far out of the side the Scotland youth international needs to restart his career elsewhere.
Undoubtedly one of the highest-rated young talents in Scottish football, Leon King is certainly ready for more first-team exposure and let’s see where he winds up in January.
The centre-back signed a “long-term” contract extension at Rangers at the end of 2022 with Transfermarkt believing the deal runs until 2026.
Rangers Academy warning
As Leon King prepares to head out on loan in January, he’s the latest young Rangers star whose struggled with staying power after breaking through into the team.
Rangers have handed debuts to several young players in recent seasons, with the likes of Nathan Patterson, Alex Lowry, Adam Devine, Cole McKinnon, Bailey Rice, Johnly Yfeko and Zak Lovelace breaking into the team.
Nathan Patterson aside – the Scotland international moving to Everton – the rest have either fell into the background of the squad or been farmed out on loan.
The situation with Leon King must serve as a warning to Rangers’ latest Academy emergence in the shape of Ross McCausland.
Having just signed a new contract himself, the young Northern Irish winger is tasked with bucking the recent trend and becoming a consistent presence in the Rangers team.
Conversely, if Leon King is to head out in January the task for the young Rangers defender is getting coming back to Ibrox and fulfilling his potential at the club.
